Statistics Canada reports that stroke is one of the leading causes of death and adult disability, and the Public Health Agency of Canada named stroke as one of the most impactful chronic diseases in Canada. Following a stroke, 60% of people report needing help with their care and 80% have restrictions on their daily activities. An ageing population, combined with the prevalence of stroke, indicates that the need for stroke services will continue to grow in Canada. With increased accountability being placed on stroke centres, there is a need to strive for the Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care.

Stroke Distinction recognizes organizations that demonstrate clinical excellence and an outstanding commitment to leadership in stroke care. The program’s rigorous and highly specialized standards are based on the Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care.

There are three sets of Stroke Distinction standards:

Acute Stroke Services

Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Services

Providing an Integrated System of Services to People with Stroke

The Value of Obtaining Stroke Distinction

Showcase excellence in stroke care

The Accreditation Canada Stroke Distinction program offers a rigorous and highly specialized process that goes beyond the QmentumTM program requirements and:

Provides a comprehensive program developed in partnership with the Canadian Stroke Network (CSN)

Gives you standards of excellence that are based on Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care (strokebestpractices.ca), and in‑depth, stroke‑specific performance indicators and protocols

Offers an on‑site visit from expert evaluators who have extensive practical experience in stroke services

Providing your organization with tools like the new self‑assessment to help your organization identify areas for improvement

Mitigating risk, which reduces the high cost of errors

Identifying opportunities to standardize care and improve efficiency

Focusing on excellence and innovation, client and family education, effective protocols, and achieving Best Practice Recommendations for StrokeCare

“I am proud to be part of an organization with a leading stroke program in Canada. Through the process of applying the Accreditation Canada Stroke Distinction program, our team has ensured the excellence of the care we provide.”

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CorHealth Ontario

As of June 22, 2017, we are CorHealth Ontario, an organization formed by the merger of the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario and the Ontario Stroke Network, with an expanded mandate spanning cardiac, stroke and vascular services through the entire course of care. CorHealth Ontario provides a strategic understanding of the care needs of both patients and providers, as the basis for clinical quality improvement, provincial planning, resource allocation and measurement performance of quality and outcomes.

A full CorHealth Ontario website is in development. Until its launch, please continue to visit this website for the information you need. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please send us an e-mail.